Laundering apparatus



June 20, 1961 E 'SU'LZMANN 2,989,070

'LAUNDERING APPARATUS Original Filed March 27, 1956 I nited St tes atentDivided and this application Sept. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 684,812

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-334) The present invention relates to washingmachines.

The present application is a division of copending application SerialNo. 574,249, filed March 27, 195 6, and entitled Laundering of TextileArticles, now abandoned.

The present invention relates in particular to that type of washingmachine in which the wash liquor flows through the machine.

With washing machines of this type it is necessary during a part of thewashing cycle to heat the wash liquor, and this may be done by supplyinga heating medium such as steam to the wash liquor. At the present timethe control of the flow of such a heating medium to the washing machineis brought about by a valve which is in turncontrolled by a membranewhich is acted on by a fluid such as steam or air under pressure, sothat in this way the valve which controls the flow of the heating mediummay be slowly opened or closed. If an electromagnetic valve, forexample, were used to control the flow of steam or other heating mediumto the washing machine, it would be necessary to open and close such avalve frequently, and because of the relatively large amount of currentrequired for this purpose many disadvantages would result, and for thisreason a pressure fluid acting on a membrane is used to provide agradually opening and closing of the control valve rather than anelectrically actuated valve which opens and closes suddenly. However,the provision of a membrane acted on by a fluid under pressure is not asatisfactory solution to the problem. For example, if the fluid pressureis not available to act on the membrane the valve which admits theheating medium will remain closed and the washing cannot be carried outat the desired temperature. Such an occurrence cannot be risked incommercial installations, and thus under these conditions it isnecessary to provide structures which will guarantee reliable operation,and as a result the cost of operation of washing machines in commercialinstallations is undesirably high.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the abovedrawbacks by providing a washing machine arrangement which is capable ofhaving the control of the supply of the heating medium carried out by avalve which opens and closes suddenly so that the necessity of providinga membrane operated on by a fluid under pressure is eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machinewith a control arrangement capable of guaranteeing eflicient washing ofarticles while the heating medium is supplied steadily to the washingmachine during that phase of the washing cycle when the wash liquor isrequired to be at an elevated temperature.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangementwhich will automatically control the temperature of the wash liquorwithout any difiiculties in the supply of a heating medium thereto whileat the same time using relatively simple structure which is veryreliable in operation.

With the above objects in view, the present invention includes in awashing machine a receptacle adapted to contain a wash liquor in whicharticles are washed. A first conduit means leads to and communicateswith the interior of the receptacle for delivering a heating medium suchas steam thereto, and a first valve means cooperates with this firstconduit means for opening the same to fie admit the heating mediumthrough the first conduit means to the receptacle. A second conduitmeans communicates with the receptacle for delivering thereto a liquidat a temperature substantially lower than the heating medium, and asecond valve means cooperates with the second conduit means for openingand closing the same. A control means which is responsive to thetemperature of the wash liquor in the receptacle cooperates with thesecond valve means for opening and closing the same to control thedelivery of the liquid through the second conduit means to thereceptacle for maintaining the temperature of the wash liquor withinpredetermined limits while the heating medium flows steadily to thereceptacle through the first conduit means. In this way the first valvemeans may have a relatively simple construction'since it is onlyrequired to open the first conduit means and maintain it open while theheating medium flows steadily to the washing machine, the cooler liquidhaving its flow through the second conduit means controlled so as toregulate the temperature of the wash liquor.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, to gether with additional objects and advantages thereof,will be best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

As may be seen from the drawing wherein a structure according to thepresent invention is schematically illustrated in a longitudinalsectional view, the washing machine includes an outer receptacle 10which is stationary and which has in its interior a rotary wash drum 11,as is conventional. The wash drum 11 is carried by the shaft means 12tor rotation about the axis of the shaft means 12, and the drum may bedriven in any suitable way as by a belt and pulley drive, a pulley ofthis drive being shown at the end of the left portion of the shaft 12,.

as viewed in the drawing. The drive should be reversible.

The fresh wash water is supplied through a conduit 13 which communicateswith a valve housing 14 which forms part of a valve means which includesthe valve member 15 which is electrically controlled and which controlsthe flow of the wash water from the conduit 13 to the conduit 16. Aheating medium for heating the wash liquor within the receptacle 10 maybe in the form of steam which is delivered by the conduit 17 to thereceptacle 10, and the heating of the wash liquor may take place eitherby a direct flow of steam into the wash liquor or through indirectheating of the wash liquor, a

valve 18 controlling the flow of the heating medium, such as steam,through the conduit 17 to the receptacle 10. This valve 18 seats itselfupon a valve seat which forms part of the conduit 17 in order tomaintain the valve means which cooperates with the conduit 17 closed soas cut off the flow of heating medium to the receptacle 10.

The level of the liquor in the receptacle 10 is higher than that in thedrum 11, and this is brought about by the fact that the liquid flows tothe receptacle 10 at a faster rate than it flows into the drum 11, theflow of the liquor into the drum 11 being retarded as by necessitatingthe flow of the liquor through openings 11' formed in the end walls ofthe drum 11. The drum may also be provided in a known way with holes atits outer periphery. The liquid in the receptacle 10 overflows through asiphon-like discharge tube 10. The addition of soap can be provided, forexample, through the inlet 27.

The drawing illustrates how the periodic supply of liquid through theconduit 16 is controlled.

In order to provide the flow of heating medium through the conduit 17,the valve 18 is opened, and this is brought about by turning the lever20 which may be controlled mechanically or by hand. The lever 20 ispivotally supported intermediate its ends by a bracket carried by thehousing of the valve 18, and a spring means in the form of a spring 18within the housing urges the valve member downwardly to its closedposition, and because of the connection of the valve stem to the lever20, this spring means maintains the lever 20 in the position thereofillustrated in the drawing. A blocking member 19 is pressed by a springto the right, as viewed in the drawing, so that when the lever 20 isturned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, to open thevalve, the blocking member 19 moves into the space previously occupiedby the lever 20, and prevents the return of the latter to the positionit takes when the valve is closed, so that the spring 18' is preventedby the spring-pressed blocking member 19 from returning the valve to itsclosed position, and in this way upon actuatiton of the lever 20 asteady How of steam through the conduit 17 is provided. The blockingmember 19 forms an extension of an armature of the solenoid 25controlled by the circuit 26, 26.

The valve 15 is urged to its closed position by a spring 15, and thestem of the valve 15 is connected to the armature of solenoid 21 whichis controlled by an electrical circuit 22, 24, 24, this electricalcircuit including the contact thermometer 23 which engages the liquorwithin the receptacle and which controls the solenoid 21 by closing andopening the circuit thereof in accordance with the temperature. Theliquid which flows through the conduit 16 to the receptacle 10 is at atemperature substantially lower than the steam which flows through theconduit 17, and when the temperature of the liquor in the receptacle 10reaches a predetermined value, this temperature which is sensed by thecontact thermometer 23 will cause the latter to close the circuit andopen the valve so that the liquid flows to the receptacle 10 through theconduit 16 in order to reduce the temperature of the liquor, and when acertain predetermined lower temperature is reached the circuit opens andthe spring 15' again closes the valve 15. Thus, while steam or othersuitable heating medium flows to the receptacle 10 through the conduit17, the temperature of the wash liquor is maintained withinpredetermined limits by the opening and closing of the valve 15 which iscontrolled by the contact thermometer 23. For example, the thermometeror control means 23 may be set so as to close the circuit of thesolenoid 21 as soon as the temperature of the wash liquor reaches 85 C.

Pre-rinsing or after rinsing of the wash can be provided by closing theelectrical circuit 22, 24, 24 so as to maintain the valve 15 open. Theclosing of the circuit can be controlled in a known way by an electricalclock switch or by a suitable cam roller which controls the washingprogram, and through the lead 24" a closing of a circuit through thesolenoid 21 independently of the thermometer 23 can be provided.

The interruption of the admission of steam to the receptacle 10 aftercarrying out the heated phase of the washing cycle can be provided byenergizing the solenoid 25 so that the blocking member 19 is retractedand the spring 18 automatically closes the valve 18. The circuit 26, 26of the solenoid 25 can also be controlled in a known way by a timingroller 30 or the like which carries electrical contacts for controllingthe circuit.

The conduit 17 which is upstream of the conduit 17 and forms therewiththe conduit means for admitting the heating medium to the receptacle 10,may be provided with a throttling valve 28 and a pressure gauge 29, sothat it is possible to adjust the pressure of the steam before it entersinto the conduit 17 and receptacle 10.

It is also possible in accordance with the present invention toperiodically interrupt the supply of water through the conduit 16 to thereceptacle 10 during a rinsing phase, either pre-rinsing or afterrinsing, and in this way the flow of water is retarded and increased. Asa 4 result with a relatively small amount of water the rinsing iscarried out by changing the amount of wash liquor in the receptacle andby changing the elevation thereof. This regulation can be carried out byan electric clock switch arrangement or program controlling drum or thelike through the electrical lead 24".

A control lamp may be arranged in the circuit 26, 26' for indicatingwhen the lever 20 Should be actuated to control the steam valve 18.Also, instead of delivering steam directly to the wash liquor in thereceptacle 10, it is possible to provide only one or more heating tubesin the interior of the receptacle and along the interior of these tubesa suitable heating medium may flow. Also, it is possible to build asuitably adjustable radiator in the receptacle.

The heating up of the wash liquor can be carried out in any desiredknown way by direct or indirect steam heating, or through other mediums,particularly electrical, gas, or oil heating, or the like.

Also, it is possible to construct the water supply valve 15 differently,and in particular as the discharge valve of a tank which holds a supplyof fresh water, such a discharge valve being, for example, in the formof a ball valve which also may be controlled by a magnet. In this way itis possible to lead the water from such a supply tank through a chambercontaining soap or other chemicals, so that with such an arrangement theinlet 27 for the soap may be eliminated.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofwashing machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inwashing machines and controls therefor, it is not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine, in combination, a receptacle adapted to containa wash liquor in which articles are washed; first conduit means leadingto and communicating with the interior of said receptacle for leading aheating steam thereto; valve means cooperating with said first conduitmeans for opening and closing the latter; spring means cooperating withsaid valve means for urging the same to a closed position closing saidfirst conduit means to cut off the flow of heating steam to saidreceptacle; a lever means cooperating with said valve means for movingthe same against the force of said spring means to an open position formaintaining said valve means open so as to provide a steady flow ofheating steam to said receptacle while said valve means is maintainedopen; releasable blocking means cooperating with said lever means forpreventing the latter from moving under the influence of said springmeans to a position which said lever means takes when said valve meansis closed, so that said blocking means cooperates with said lever meansto maintain said valve means open against the force of said springmeans; second conduit means communicating with and leading to theinterior of said receptacle for delivering to the latter a liquid at atemperature substantially below that of the heating steam; second valvemeans cooperating with said second conduit means for opening and closingthe latter; and temperature-responsive control means responsive to thetemperature of the wash liquor in the receptacle and cooperating withsaid second valve means for opening and closing the latter to maintainthrough said second conduit means a delivery of liquid which willmaintain the temperature of the wash liquor within predetermined limitswhile the heating steam flows steadily to said rereceptacle through saidfirst conduit means, whereby the temperature of the wash liquor can becontrolled Without interrupting the flow of the heating steam to thereceptacle and whereby after said blocking means is actuated to releasesaid lever means said first-mentioned valve means will automaticallyclose to cut off the flow of heating steam to said receptacle.

2. In a washing machine, in combination, a receptacle adapted to containa wash liquor in which articles are washed; first conduit means leadingto and communicating with the interior of said receptacle for leading aheating steam thereto; valve means cooperating with said first conduitmeans for opening and closing the latter; spring means cooperating withsaid valve means for urging the same to a closed position closing saidfirst conduit means to cut off the flow of heating steam to saidreceptacle; a lever means cooperating with said valve means for movingthe same against the force of said spring means to an open position formaintaining said valve means open so as to provide a steady flow ofheating medium to said receptacle while said valve means is maintainedopen; releasable blocking means cooperating with said lever means forpreventing the latter from moving under the influence of said springmeans to a position which said lever means takes when said valve meansis closed; so that said blocking means cooperates with said lever meansto maintain said valve means open against the force of said springmeans; second conduit means communicating with and leading to theinterior of said receptacle for delivering to the latter a liquid at atemperature substantially below that of the heating steam; second valvemeans cooperating with said second conduit means for opening and closingthe latter; temperatureresponsive control means responsive to thetemperature of the wash liquor in the receptacle and cooperating withsaid second valve means for opening and closing the latter to maintainthrough said second conduit means a delivery of liquid which willmaintain the temperature of the wash liquor within predetermined limitswhile the heating steam flows steadily to said receptacle through saidfirst conduit means, whereby the temperature of the wash liquor can becontrolled without interrupting the flow of the heating steam to thereceptacle and whereby after said blocking means is actuated to releasesaid lever means said first-mentioned valve means will automaticallyclose to cut 01f the flow of heating medium to said receptacle; andelectromagnetic means cooperating with said blocking means for actuatingthe same to release said lever means.

3. In a washing machine, in combination, a receptacle adapted to containwash liquor in which articles are washed; a first conduit leading to andcommunicating with the interior of said receptacle for leading hot steamthereto; a valve housing carried by said first conduit and havingtherein a valve seat which forms part of said first conduit; a valvemember carried by said housing for movement to and from a position inengagement with said seat for closing said conduit; spring meanscooperating with said valve member for urging the same to said valveseat; a lever pivotally carried by said housing and connected to saidvalve member for moving the same away from said seat for opening saidfirst conduit means, said lever having a free end; a spring-pressedblocking member located next to said free end of said lever and urged byits spring to a position occupying the space which is occupied by saidfree end of said lever when said valve is on said seat, so that whensaid lever is turned to raise said valve member from said seat saidblocking member will automatically move to a position which prevents thereturn of said lever to the position it occupied when said valve memberwas on said seat so that said blocking member maintains said firstconduit means open; electromagnetic means including a timer andcooperating with said spring-pressed blocking member for moving the sameto a releasing position releasing said lever and valve member to theinfluence of said spring means for closing said first conduit means;second conduit means communicating with the interior of said receptaclefor leading to the latter a liquid at a temperature substantially lowerthan the temperature of said steam; second valve means cooperating withsaid second conduit means for opening and closing the same; andtemperatureresponsive control means responsive to the temperature of thewash liquor in said receptacle and cooperating with said second valvemeans for opening and closing the latter to provide in said secondconduit means a flow of liquid to said receptacle which will maintainthe temperature of the wash liquor therein within predetermined limitswhile the steam flows steadily to said receptacle through said firstconduit means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS866,825 Summers et a1. Sept. 24, 1907 1,575,188 Chace Mar. 2, 19261,954,261 Pierce Apr. 10, 1934 1,995,634 Clark Mar. 26, 1935 2,146,930Bassett Feb. 14, 1939 2,570,148 Neuroth et al. Oct. 1951

